Problem Cocking shutter on 500C

[sxlcartron]

I'm having a problem cocking the shutter on the 500C.
Without film in the camera I remove the back - just to see the insides and how the shutter fires - and find
that the rear-curtains ( auxillary shutter) are open and the mirror is up - is this usual?
Anyway , I cannot cock the shutter at this stage - the winding wheel on the RHS just will not turn.
And so I have to release the rear-curtains by turning a small silver screw 2 inches inside the box from the back
When I do this the rear-curtains come down and I can then cock the shutter by turning the winder.
When I press the shutter release the shutter fires as normal BUT
again the mirror and rear-curtains remain up and I cannot turn the winder to re-cock the shutter and again I have
to poke inside the box to turn the little screw which releases the rear-curtains.

I'm hoping that something simple I'm not doing is the problem - as I am not used to medium format cameras

Can anyone suggest a solution ?
Thanks
jim

 

[terrydent]

Sorry to tell you that it is probably not something simple. When Hasselblads start acting that way it is time for professional repair.

Terry

 

[Victorh]

Sorry Jim,

Hasselblad cameras are little mechanical wonders that do need the hand of an experienced and trained professional to set them right.
In fact your camera is long overdue as far as a service is concerned.
If I understand you correctly the mirror is sticking in the up position.
That indicates a certain amount of neglect.

A 500C is at least 40 years old, keep in mind most of these older bodies were once used by a pro who had a habit of shooting an average of 10 films a day.
Keep that up for a couple of years and most bodies will have shot several of hundred thousand images before they ended up in the hands of a keen amateur.
Not every pro was smart enough to have his or her camera serviced in time.
Some used the money saved to buy a new camera and start all over again.

The act with the release screw kept your camera going for a while.
Now is the time to have the 500C serviced or find another body.

This post may help you to get some idea what service is about:

http://www.hasselbladinfo.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4788



Vic.

 

[sxlcartron]

Problem with 500C

Hi Guys,
Thanks for replying - much appreciated.
I bought this camera on e-bay for $600 ( incl.p&p) from someone who had 604 positive transactions (none negative)
and who described the camera as ".........in excellent mechanical and cosmetic shape" and "....every item is tested
before dispatch". So the problem for me is whether I have the camera repaired and look for some payback from
the vendor OR, if the repair bill runs to several hundred dollars , enter a dispute through e-bay and look for my money back under threat of negative feedback - which
I am reluctant to do. In any event I was expecting a fully functioning camera which it is not. He does say that international orders ( I live in Ireland ) may not be returned as a result of "...bad experience in the past".
Anyway thanks once again.
jim

 

[Victorh]

You have every reason to ask your money back.

I have no idea about the testing methods or the knowledge of the seller but this camera is not only way over priced it does not meet the sellers description.

Please contact David Odess for a quotation to service this camera.
Older 500 C bodies, from my fading memory pre # 30000 serial number, can not be serviced completely due to lack of parts.

Concerning evilbay:
It is against ebay rules to use negative feedback as a threat.
Simply confront the seller with the problems and misleading description.
I am sure he or she will see it is better to cancel this sale and take the 500C back.


Vic.

 

[gabe1978]

Problem Cocking 500 EL/M Shutter

I try cocking the shutter of my EL/M lens by inserting a coin into the slot on the cocking shaft, then rotating the shaft clockwise slightly more than one turn until it stops. But the lens does not release into a fully cocked position so that the slot on the shaft points to the red index dot. Do you think this a professional service issue, or is it something I can fix at home? Thanks everyone.